Queenstowners dominated the inaugural Red Bull Foxhunt at Cardrona last Saturday.
One hundred downhill mountain bikers signed up for the mass-start enduro race down a 9.5-kilometre course, in which their aim was to beat the ‘foxes’ — Red Bull athletes and world-leading mountain bikers Brook ‘The Bulldog’ Macdonald, Remy Morton and Queenstown’s Jess Blewitt — to the bottom.
Macdonald, Morton and Blewitt started several metres back, determined to chase down their prey.
Blewitt, 20, the New Zealand downhill champ, had a blinder, coming in second overall in 16:06.40, pipped by fellow local rider Louise Ferguson, who crossed first in 14:30.60.
Rotorua’s Lynette Deacon finished third, in 16:36.46, followed by Queenstowner Emma Oloffson in 16:59.97.
Blewitt says she’s thrilled to have been able to get amongst the action.
‘‘That was pretty wild — there are some talented riders in there and that course was intense — Louise did an impressive job with that finish time.
‘‘The energy throughout the whole day and race was insane.’’
In the men’s category, Queenstown’s Sean McCarroll crossed in first place in 13 minutes and eight seconds, followed by fellow local Gareth Burgees (13:26.36) and Christchurch’s Sam Blenkinsop (13:41.91).
Morton placed 17th overall, with Macdonald, who was buzzing after the race, in 20th.
‘‘It was awesome to go head-to-head against some of New Zealand’s best, and the atmosphere was next-level,’’ he says.
‘‘Next year I’ll be gunning to take first place.’’
